358 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIII. 



dile, during the seven days when his birth was 

 celebrated. On this occasion, a gold and silver 

 patera was annually thrown into the Nile, at a spot 

 called from its form the " Bottle :" and while this 

 festival was held, no one was in danger of being 

 attacked by crocodiles, thougli bathing carelessly 

 in the river. But it could no longer be done w4th 

 impunity after the 6th hour of the 8th day. The 

 hostility of that animal to man was then observed 

 invariably to return, as if permitted by the Deity 

 to resume its liabits. 



Apis was usually kept in one or other of the two 

 stables, — seldom going out, except into the court 

 attached to them, where strangers came to visit 

 Iiim. But on certain occasions he was conducted 

 through the town with great ])oinp. He was then 

 escorted by numerous guards, who made a way 

 amidst the crowd, and prevented the approach 

 of the profane ; and a chorus of children singing 

 hymns in his honour headed the procession. 



The attention paid to Apis, and the care they 

 took of his health by scrupulously selecting the 

 most wholesome food, were so great, that even the 

 water he drank was taken from a particular well 

 set apart for his use ; and it was forbidden to give 

 him the water of tlie Nile, in consequence of its 

 being found to have a peculiarly fattening property. 

 ** For," says Plutarch*, "they endeavour to prevent 

 fatness as well in Apis as themselves ; always stu- 

 dious that their bodies may sit as light about their 

 souls as possible, in order that their mortal })art may 



* Pint, tie Is. s. 5. Supra, p. 355. 



